Cliveden Literary Festival 2026

This month, 30 of our Year 12 and 13 English, History and Politics students had the privilege of attending the Cliveden Literary Festival. Established in 2017 by Natalie Livingstone, Catherine Ostler, Simon Sebag Montefiore, and Andrew Roberts, the festival was designed to revive Cliveden House's storied history as a vibrant political and literary salon.

Throughout the weekend, students attended a wide range of discussions led by a lineup of world-renowned speakers. They listened to acclaimed novelists such as Julian Barnes and David Nicholls, prominent journalists such as Emily Maitlis, and esteemed historians including Tom Holland. These talks took them beyond the pages of the books they read, exploring everything from the craft of narrative to ancient empires and the burning political issues of the day.

A particular highlight was an invitation to an exclusive, student-only session in The Salon entitled Mind Over Media. Chaired by Camilla Cavendish and joined by a panel of writers and journalists, the discussion tackled how to stay focused in an age of digital distraction. The panel emphasised the importance of recentring physical creative mediums and genuine in-person connections rather than relying increasingly on technology and AI.

Beyond the scheduled talks, the students were generously gifted a fantastic selection of books to take home, allowing them to continue their intellectual exploration.

A huge thank you to the organisers of the Cliveden Literary Festival for inviting us back to such a spectacular and enriching event.

(Image Credit: Belinda Lawley)